The latest rumors on Higgins are that the Bengals will franchise tag him if they cannot reach a deal before free agency kicks off. Even if that doesn’t come to fruition, Graff believes the Patriots will prioritize the offensive and defensive lines. Patriots executive VP of player personnel reinforced those sentiments at the combine when he said “The game is always won on the lines — offensive line, defensive line.” Graff adds that the Patriots are “going to feel out the trade market for a receiver,” but any move for Higgins appears unlikely at this point.

It was revealed on Wednesday that Carter was dealing with a stress reaction in his right foot that may require surgery. Now, per Schefter’s report, further scans have advised against surgery. Carter will presumably rest and let the injury heal on its own while preparing for his pro day, which is scheduled for March 28th. Drew Rosenhaus doubled down on his statements regarding Carter and his injury, saying, “I couldn’t be more confident that this will be a non-factor where he’s drafted.”

Lynch said “It probably makes sense” and the team is allowing Samuel to look for trade partners. He also briefly mentioned Samuel’s contract. The 49ers will eat a $31.6 million dead cap charge if they trade Samuel, reducing their cap space by $15.2 million. That means the team needs to be reasonably compensated by a trade partner for the cap hit they will incur, creating a potential hurdle in negotiations. Still, Lynch seemed understanding of Samuel’s desire to leave and does appear willing to move on from the former superstar wideout. Coming off a frustrating season that amounted to just 806 yards from scrimmage, the second-lowest mark of his career, a mutual split may be best for both sides at this point.

Rodgers, soon to be released by the Jets, could be a replacement for Matthew Stafford, who has been granted permission to work out a trade this offseason. Signing Rodgers to a team-friendly, short-term deal, Florio said, would allow the Rams to “devote resources elsewhere in lieu of breaking the bank for Stafford.” Rodgers, 41, struggled in 2024, displaying a reduced mobility and, at times, a lack of his typical world-class arm strength. He seems determined to keep playing in 2025, and the Rams would make sense if Sean McVay is looking for a stopgap game manager in lieu of Stafford. The circus that comes with Rodgers could very much limit his options, however.

Alexander, 28, a two-time Pro Bowler, has been rumored to be on his way out of Green Bay after struggling through a laundry list of injuries over the past few seasons. Alexander refused to speak with reporters after the season, saying he had “nothing good to say” about his situation in Green Bay. The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman said it “would be a win for the Packers if they can get anything in return for [Alexander] instead of just releasing him.” Pro Football Focus graded Alexander as last season’s eighth best cover corner. There will certainly be a market for Alexander in the coming weeks.

The NFLPA report card, which included responses from nearly 1,700 active NFL players, had Johnson as the only owner to get a failing grade. Patriots owner Robert Kraft, Cardinals owner Michael Bidwell, and Panthers owner David Tepper were the only owners to get a D on the NFLPA’s report card. Johnson received a B- grade in 2023. “Rather than addressing concerns, players believed that management responded to feedback by making conditions worse,” the report said about Johnson and the Jets higher ups. It’s hardly a surprise that Johnson would get such low marks after another failed season, his commitment to Aaron Rodgers, and reports that Johnson’s children had made roster decisions based on Madden ratings. Johnson, who reportedly took control over the Jets front office midway through the catastrophic 2024 season, would do well to step aside and let head head coach Aaron Glenn take charge of the organization.

Like most highly-touted draft prospects, Warren won’t do any work at the Combine after his stellar career at Penn State, including a final collegiate season that should make him a top-20 pick in the draft. Warren went for 1,228 yards and eight touchdowns on a whopping 104 receptions in 2024. Bowling Green’s Harold Fannin was the only tight end in the nation with more catches and receiving yards than Warren last year. A massive middle-of-the-field target, Warren has been connected to the Colts, who have the 14th overall selection.

“That’s the sentiment shared by most,” said Hughes, who covers the Giants, a team linked to Stafford as the veteran QB tests the trade market. “This permission the Rams granted him to talk to others? It’s likely nothing more than a means to figure out his value. He and L.A. will agree to a new deal once he does.” Hughes said the likelihood that Stafford stays put this offseason shouldn’t stop the Giants front office from pursuing him as a stopgap measure after the team’s disastrous Daniel Jones experiment fizzled out in 2024. Tom Brady and the Raiders are also reportedly interested in trading for Stafford in the coming weeks or months, likely ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft.

The veteran quarterback carousel continues to churn. The 41-year-old Rodgers reportedly prefers to head to Los Angeles to play for the Rams and wants to pair up with Davante Adams once again. It would be the third team Rodgers and Adams would play together on, after a successful stint on the Packers and a short, unsuccessful stint with the Jets. The Rams would only consider bringing in Rodgers if they deal the incumbent Matthew Stafford, who has been heavily rumored to move on. One potential scenario is a Stafford trade to the Giants while Rodgers and Adams head to the Rams for one more hurrah.

“It’ll be good for Anthony,” Ballard said. Richardsoncoin is getting liquidated left and right. That the Colts would put this out there doesn’t necessarily mean that Richardson won’t win a competition — it’s hard to tell what quality of quarterback the Colts want to bring in during free agency. Ballard did say it had to be “someone who can challenge from a production standpoint, too.” What it does mean is that any kind of struggle stretch won’t be tolerated as “growing pains” and would probably lead to a benching. Even without knowing who the Colts are going to sign this offseason, it’s hard to imagine Richardson starting more than half the team’s games based on his 2024 form. He’ll need to take a major step forward this offseason to restore his franchise quarterback status.